GREAT RESULT. DONS ALMOST SAFE WITH A 4-0 WIN

WIMBLEDON 4 - 0 BURTON ALBION


THE DONS MOVE CLOSER TO SECURING SAFETY IN THEIR FIRST SEASON IN LEAGUE 2 WITH A COMFORTABLE WIN AGAINST BURTON THOUGH THE SCORE LINE IS A LITTLE FLATTERING WITH 2 OF THE GOALS COMING IN STOPPAGE TIME.


A FIRST CLEAN SHEET AT HOME IN THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON TOO WHICH IS AMAZING AND FIRST GOALS IN THE LEAGUE FOR GEORGE MONCUR AND BYRON HARRISON TOO WHICH WILL DO WONDERS FOR CONFIDENCE.

THE SQUAD CAN BEGIN TO PLAN FOR A REASONABLE MID TABLE FINISH AND GIVE SOME MATCHES TO PLAYERS LIKE KIERAN DJILALI AND JACK TURNER WHO NEED SOME PLAYING TIME AFTER A FRUSTRATING TIME EITHER INJURED OR STUCK ON THE BENCH. FEEL FOR JACK COS I THINK HE'S A TALENTED LAD BUT AS A GOALKEEPER GOING TO BE HARD TO MOVE SEB BROWN OUT THE WAY BARING AN INJURY. 


NO MIDWEEK GAME THOUGH MIGHT BE A "DEVELOPMENT" MATCH HASTILY ARRANGED IF IT HELPS KEEP THE PLAYERS IN THE MOOD, NEXT SATURDAY THE DONS ARE AWAY TO ACCRINGTON STANLEY.


OUR RACING NAP (CAI SHEN) FINISHED A FAST RUNNING 2ND IN THE WINTER DERBY TO THE DECENT SORT PREMIO LOCO. THE FLAT SEASON STARTS NEXT WEEK AND WE'LL COVER DONCASTER'S LINCOLN MEETING ON SATURDAY. 

SAT 24th DONS HOME TO BURTON ALBION.

WIMBLEDON VS BURTON ALBION

THE DONS RECENT FORM (two 1-0 defeats) DOESN'T READ TOO GOOD BUT WITH BURTON ALSO DOWN THE BOTTOM OF THE TABLE ONLY 1 POINT AND 1 PLACE BELOW THE DONS BEFORE THIS WEEKENDS GAME, THEY'VE ALSO LOST 8 OF THEIR LAST 10 MATCHES. 


IMPORTANT THEREFORE FOR WIMBLEDON TO GET A WIN AT HOME AND MOVE CLOSER TO SAFETY. NOW BURTON HAVE RECENTLY REPLACED THEIR MANAGER AND THAT USUALLY SPELLS CURTAINS FOR THEIR NEXT OPPONENTS SO LETS BUCK THE TREND GUYS.


WILL GET ON JACK MIDSON AT 9/2 TO OPEN THE SCORING AGAIN AND ALSO 5/1 TO GET 2 OR MORE GOALS WHICH WAS NICE AND SUCCESSFUL FOR US AGAINST BRADFORD.


THE RACING NAP FOR SATURDAY IS CAI SHEN IN THE WINTER DERBY [3.25] AT LINGFIELD.


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
DAISY

DONS AWAY TO OXFORD TUESDAY 20.03

OXFORD 1 - 0 WIMBLEDON


THE DONS GO AWAY THIS TUESDAY AND AS THE SEASON BEGINS IT'S FINAL FEW WEEKS IT'S HARD TO SEE PAST A HOME WIN HERE THIS WEEK. TO SAY OUR SHORT HISTORY AGAINST THE O's IS POOR IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, WE'VE NEVER SO MUCH AS SCORED AGAINST THEM SO A 0-0 HAS TO BE THE CALL. 


GOT NO RUN AT ALL FROM THE REF IN THE REVERSE FIXTURE AS I RECALL, IT WILL INTERESTING WHATEVER THE SCORE FROM THE KASSAM STADIUM. 

CHELTENHAM DAY 4 FRIDAY

THURSDAY CHELTENHAM
It was a BIG BUCKS day yesterday and couple of near misses with Albertas Run and The Cockney Mackem. But we are all set for Gold Cup Day now and it's going to be awesome. 


CHELTENHAM FRIDAY


1.30 -- BALDER SUCCESS.


2.05 -- CITIZENSHIP.


2.40 -- BOSTON BOB.


3.20 -- KAUTO STAR NAP. 


4.00 -- MY FLORA.


4.40 -- MOLOTOF. 


5.15 -- FRENCH OPERA. 


GOOD LUCK
DAISY

CHELTENHAM DAY 3 THURSDAY

WEDNESDAY CHELTENHAM
Couple of winners yesterday to keep us going and a few places too. Onwards to Day 3 now and looking forward to a great Friday too.


CHELTENHAM THURSDAY

1.30 -- SOLIX is the one to be on with Nicky Henderson tearing the place up so far, still a nice price and it's time Ruby had a winner again so we'll have CRISTAL BONUS in against the field too.

2.05 -- PRINCE ERIK might be better when he goes to Galway but at 20's is a nice win/place selection here. BUENA VISTA has won this twice and been placed so can't be ignored even though he's 11yo now.

2.40 -- ALBERTAS RUN [NAP] another popular winner here and McCoy's the man to get him round with top weight and see off Noble Prince as the likely danger.

3.20 -- BIG BUCKS of course, just watch and enjoy. If you must place a bet then DYNASTE to place looks promising, gave BB a decent race a while back, can't beat him but 2 places up for grabs behind. 

4.00 -- Would have been good to see Jack the Giant back but it's not to be, CHARINGWORTH for Lucy Alexander with THE COCKNEY MACKEM at big prices here are my pair vs the field.

4.40 -- And our finale today looks like a D PIPE benefit, won it last year with JUNIOR and the pick could be SONA SASTA off a lightweight. Wouldn't mind seeing FASSEL going well again too. 

5.15 -- A charity race that we won't be entertaining. 

GOOD LUCK
DAISY

WIMBLEDON 3 -- 1 BRADFORD, AND CHELTENHAM WED UPDATE

WIMBLEDON 3 - 1 BRADFORD
SO THE DONS SECURE AN IMPORTANT VICTORY AGAINST BRADFORD IN TUESDAY NIGHTS GAME. JACK MIDSON SCORED A 33rd MIN PENALTY TO GIVE THE DONS THE LEAD BUT ONLY A FEW MINS LATER AN O.G. BY NEW DEFENDER PIM BALKESTEIN MEANT IT WAS ALL SQUARE AT HALF TIME, BRADFORD BEING REDUCED TO 10 MEN BY THIS TIME TOO AS THEIR CRAIG FAGAN WAS GIVING HIS MARCHING ORDERS FOR A SECOND BOOKING.



THE SECOND HALF LIVENED UP WHEN BILLY KNOTT SCORED WIMBLEDON'S 2ND ON 54 MINS. AND THEN A 2ND MIDSON PENALTY [75 mins] SEALED THE 3 POINTS.  


TUESDAY CHELTENHAM
WELL WE MANAGED TO GET OUR OF JAIL WITH A WIN IN THE LAST TWO RACES, QUEVEGA OBLIGING AT SHORT ODDS AS EXPECTED BUT THE RUNNER UP WAS OUT PLACE BET KENTFORD GREY LADY. THEN IN THE FINALE WE HAD HUNT BALL WINNING AT 13/2 WHICH GOT US BACK TO A BREAK EVEN POSITION FOR THE DAY MORE OR LESS. 


[COUPLE THOSE WITH JACK MIDSON SCORING FIRST AT 9/2 AND GETTING HIS SECOND [5/1] WITH ANOTHER PENALTY WE'RE WELL AHEAD NOW. SEE OUR PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY FROM EARLIER TUESDAY]


CHELTENHAM WED

1.30 -- ALLEE GARDE taken to give Ireland another winner, with Harry the Viking a big danger on this season's form to date.


2.05 -- SIMONSIG can be the one to give Nicky Henderson his 41st festival winner. The McCoy/McManus combination can take a place with the lightly raced NELSON'S BRIDGE


2.40 -- The RSA Chase should see the progressive GRAND CRUS NAP now that he's been re-routed after being considered for the Gold Cup. Was busy giving Big Bucks plenty to think about over hurdles here last year and expected to be much better over fences.


3.20 -- QUEEN MUM CHASE next and while SIZING EUROPE is the horse to beat at 5/6 is no value here, we're on FINIAN'S RAINBOW. 


4.00 -- David Pipe time now for the CORAL CUP, two lurking down the bottom of the weights POOLE MASTER 12/1 and BALGARRY 8/1 WIN /PLACE Bets on these two.


4.40 -- Vendor is the talking horse here from Alan King's stable, comfortable winner since coming over from France is trying this race instead of the Triumph Hurdle. Preference is for another French bred and that's KAZLIAN from David Pipe. The Irish trained Sportsmaster and Gorgeous Sixty look the best of the rest with McCoy and Walsh their respective jockeys.


5.15 -- And the traditional closer on the Wednesday is the Championship Bumper. Normally the preserve of the Irish particularly Willie Mullins who relies on the pair CHAMPAGNE FEVER and PIQUE SOUS this year. 


The fav NEW YEARS EVE is way too short a price for his achievements so far, so we'll try two longer priced ones against the field...CIRCULAR QUAY (33/1) & VIRGINIA ASH (33/1).


ENJOY YOURSELVES. 

GREAT WIN FOR THE DONS ON SAT, BRADFORD TUES, OH AND IS CHELTENHAM ON THIS WEEK?

Morning all. 


Great 2-1 win over fellow relegation candidates Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend. Pushes the Dons back up the table and 9 points off the bottom two, with just 11 league games left of the season it's vital to keep that gap and survive the first season in League 2 (Division Four). 


Tuesday sees another relegation threatened team BRADFORD CITY come to Kingsmeadow, a 2-1 win at their place earlier in the season would be nice to repeat but they are playing a lot better of late and a draw would probably be a decent result at this stage. 


Going to chance that the Dons can win again though but should be a high scoring games as neither team are that great at defending. Jack Midson to score first at 9/2 and two or more at 5/1 looks a good bet. 


Now back to Racing, and it's finally here but somehow doesn't feel like Cheltenham, maybe I'm getting older or that I've lacked a bit of interest of late as I'm busy elsewhere but I used to have a list of horses to back by now for each of the 4 days and this year I'm not that bothered, there's no buzz or excitement. Shame cos last year I went for the GOLD CUP day courtesy of Betfair and it was amazing. 


Slightly miffed that Grand Crus is out the Gold Cup and heading for the Sun Alliance Chase instead. 


Here's my selections for Day 1 though


1.30 -- GALILEO'S CHOICE - big Dermot Weld supporter and his Unaccompanied ran some big races last year this looks so similar and has to be feared.


2.05 -- AL FEROF to beat the fav Sprinter Sacre in what has to be said is a poor renewal of the Arkle Chase


2.40 -- QUANTITATIVEEASING  -- Top weight but improving and can get competitive with McCoy in the plate. The Package a likely fav and big danger.


3.20 -- HURRICANE FLY -- Unoriginal I know but if he runs up to his form can't be beat by these. Would have to make a terrible mistake. OSCAR'S WELL at 18/1 for those that prefer something a bit bigger can certainly make the frame. 


4.00 -- SCOTSIRISH -- The X-Country chase usually won by the Bolger yard but Garde Champetre is getting a bit older now and this looks set for Willie Mullins to dominate with his Uncle Junior the big danger to the selection


4.40 -- QUEVEGA ... simply different class to these, major shock if this loses. Kentford Grey Lady for the place bet if you can't get on at 1/2 the fav.


5.15 -- HUNT BALL / TRIOLO DALENE to take the finale dutching these vs the field. 

SATURDAY NAP AND WOMBLES NEED 3PTS AT HEREFORD

RACING THIS WEEKEND FROM NEWBURY AND DONCASTER FORMING THE MAIN TV CARDS, NICE TRIBUTE RACES AT LINGFIELD FOR THE LATE DAVY JONES TOO. 


NAP -- DUBAI CREST [3.45 NEWBURY]


AFTER THEIR MIGHTY FIGHTBACK LAST WEEKEND TO DRAW 3-3 WITH CREWE THE WOMBLES OF WIMBLEDON GO ON THEIR TRAVELS AGAIN TO HEREFORD. ANOTHER TEAM WHO HAVE STRUGGLED FOR MOST OF THE SEASON AND ANOTHER POINT MUST BE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT THOUGH A WIN AND 3 POINTS ARE DEFINITELY THERE FOR THE TAKING. 

STRATFORD INTERNATIONAL LOOKING GOOD (BIT GREY THOUGH).

HAD A DAY OUT TO STRATFORD AND A LOOK AROUND THE OLYMPIC STADIUMS AND VILLAGE. THOUGHT THE MAJOR CONSTRUCTION WORK IS COMPLETE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ACTIVITY TO GET THE REST OF THE SITE READY FOR THE SUMMER. 


EXCELLENT SMOOTH RIDE IN ON THE DOCKLANDS RAILWAY THOUGH ... WHETHER IT'S AS NICE WITH MILLIONS OF SPECTATORS USING IT I DON'T KNOW BUT SO FAR SO GOOD. 


IF YOU AFTER A BIT OF SHOPPING THEN THERE'S A MASSIVE WESTFIELD CENTRE OPEN NOW SO HAVE A MARATHON WALK AROUND THAT AND PUT YOUR FEET UP FOR A COFFEE BEFORE THE JOURNEY BACK. ONE SMALL CRITICISM ... CAN THEY SIGNPOST THE UNDERGROUND / DLR STATION(S) A BIT MORE AS I ENDED UP WALKING ALL THE WAY BACK TO STRATFORD MAIN LINE STATION IN THE END. 


WELL DAY DONE AND NOW TO LOOK AT THE RACING / FOOTBALL FOR THE WEEKEND


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